Sam Philip
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has appealed to the Federal Government not to allow Marte Town fall to insurgent groups Boko Haram/ISWAP.
He urged the Federal Government to deploy decisive strategies, lamenting that Marte was completely deserted after being attacked by Boko Haram.
The governor disclosed that thousands of residents of Marte are currently taking refuge in Dikwa town.
Zulum said: “Marte was resettled about 4 years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again.
“About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa; this huge number is a threat as allowing them to stay in the camp may make most of the younger ones become vulnerable to recruitment by the insurgents.
“Alhamdulillah, we returned to Marte yesterday and spent the night with the support of the Nigerian Army and our volunteers. The community is now resettled for the second time. Still, my prayers to the federal government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army are that we do everything possible to keep this town on the ground.
“Hitherto, Marte Local Government comprises over 300 towns and villages, now we have only one standing, if we cannot maintain this one, then we will lose the whole Local Government to the insurgents, which will be very obnoxious, and I think we will not allow this to happen. Therefore, I am calling on the federal government and the Nigerian Army so that we can put heads together and hold our ground for this single town in this LGA to remain.”